Device for abrasion cleaning of concrete and the like

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS FOR ABRASION CLEANING WHICH CONSISTS OF A FIRST HOLDER PORTION FOR SECURELY SUPPORTING AN ABRADING OBJECT, AND A HANDLE ASSEMBLY RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE HOLDER AND HAVING ITS INTERIOR FILLED WITH CLEANING COMPOUND WHICH IS RELEASABLE BY PERIODIC ACTUATION OF A VALUE ASSEMBLY TO PASS THROUGH THE HOLDER MEANS TO THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE ABRADING IMPLEMENT AND THE SURFACE BEING CLEANED.

Feb. 23, 1971 K 1 3,564,779

DEVICE FOR ABRASION CLEANING OF, CONCRETE AND THE LIKE Filed July 10, 1968 Ma I 9 Q ?2 /8 W4 flE.Z

.lee 32 /26 M Q5 I .L [EL-4 I INVENTOK. L E/ew/v K06-HA/ MEYS United States Patent 3,564,779 DEVICE FOR ABRASION CLEANING OF CONCRETE AND THE LIKE Ervin Koehu, 706 E. Maple, Enid, Okla. 73701 Filed July 10, 1968, Ser. No. 743,672 Int. Cl. B24d 15/02 US. Cl. 51-205 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for abrasion cleaning which consists of a first holder portion for securely supporting an abrading object, and a handle assembly rigidly secured to the holder and having its interior filled with cleaning compound which is releasable by periodic actuation of a valve assembly to pass through the holder means to the interface between the abrading implement and the surface being cleaned.

BACKROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention The invention relates generally to abrasion cleaning devices and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, it relates to improved abrasion cleaning devices carrying a reservoir of cleaning compound in selectively releasable disposition.

(2) Description of the prior art The prior art includes various types of cleaning devices having a cleaning implement combined with a reservoir for holding and supplying cleansing material. Such devices have been generally restricted to brush-type structures carrying a reserve supply of fluid cleaning material in the handle or other attached reservoir assembly. One form of such device is known generically as the fountain brush and while the similar teachings are extended in other somewhat allied types of device, there is no known teaching of such structure utilized with respect to abrasion cleaning employing such as dry or crystalline cleaning compound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates an abrasion cleaning device including a releasable supply of cleaning compound. In a more limited aspect, the invention consists of holder means for securely supporting an abrading ele ment, and a handle means rigidly secured to the holder means and extending upward therefrom. The handle means is so constructed that its interior serves as a cleaning compound reservoir while its lower end is in valve-enabled communication through the holder means and abrading implement to the surface being cleaned. The invention utilizes particular valve means which are actuatable by depression to release a selected amount of cleaning compound.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device which effects more thorough cleaning of concrete or the like.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an abrading device which facilitates the cleaning and care of service areas and such around gasoline service station properties.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an abrading device which utilizes dry cleaning compound in reservoir-retained, releasable manner to effect removal of such as grease deposits and other forms of dirt substance from cement surfacing.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description when read Patented Feb. 23, 1971 ice in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which i1- lustrate the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the abrasion cleaning device constructed in accordance with the present inven- DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, an abrasion cleaning device 10 consists of a handle portion 12 which is rigidly secured as by welding to the top surface of a holder assembly 14 which retains an abrading element 16 securely therebeneath for contact with a surface which is to be cleaned. One form of abrading element 16 which finds popular usage is the standard form of building brick 16a such as is shown in FIG. 2. The brick 16a is the type which has three aligned holes symmetrically disposed through its shortest dimension, i.e. central hole 18 and respective right and left holes 20 and 22. The central hole 18 is utilized for delivery of cleaning compound to the abraded surface as will be further described; however, if desired, trough portions 24 and 26 may be hollowed out slightly to allow ready communication between all upper openings of the brick, holes 18, 20 and 22.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the holder 14 is shown in greater detail as a rectangular frame having a top portion 28 and flanged edges 30 (see also FIG. 1). The top panel 28 is formed with an oval-shaped hole 32 through its center to provide communication between the interior of handle means 12 and the abrading environs as will be further described. The opposite sides of holder flange 30' have threaded nuts 34 and 36 welded thereon. Respective thumb screws 38 and 40 are then threaded therethrough to be brought into contact with the brick 16a or other such abrading element 16 for the purpose of holding it in secure engagement throughout the abrasion cleaning operation.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the interior of handle 12, shown in cut away, serves as a supply reservoir for cleaning compound 42. The cleaning compound 42 may be any of various commercially-available floor cleaners which are suitable for abrasion applications, especially those applications arising around garages and automobile service areas. One such compound which is employed to good advantage is the type which is known commercially as Floor Dry and is readily available through normal supply outlets. The cleaning compound 42 is periodically supplied through a fill spout 44 which is secured in communication with the upper end of handle 12, and which is suitably closed by means of a screw cap 46.

Also, extending through the length of handle 12 and the internal reservoir volume is a valve release rod 48. An end cap 50 having an axial hole (not shown) is suitably secured as by force-fit, threads or whatever to close off the upper end of handle 12, and the valve release rod 48 extends upward therethrough for rigid affixure within a suitable form of actuating button 52. A compression spring 54 is then disposed to bear between end cap 50 and the underside 56 of actuating button 52.

Referring now to FIG. 4 the valve actuating rod 48' extends downward for secure engagement into a ball-type valve element 58 which is normally urged upward in the closed position against an aperture plate 60 due to the force of compression spring 54. The aperture plate 60 has the same outside diameter as the inside diameter (or such equivalent dimension of cross-sectional configuration) as the handle 12, and it is secured thereacross near the bottom as by welding or such. The inside diameter or edge 62 of aperture plate 60 is formed to be just slightly smaller than the maximum diameter across rear face 64 of valve element 58. If desired, the inside edge 62 of aperture 60 may be formed with a bevel shape similar to the adjoining surface of valve element 58 so that precisely fitting valve-closure is effected.

The handle 12 is secured as by welding to the top panel 28 of holder 14, this bringing a lower handle opening 66 into communication with the hole 32 through the top panel 28, and the brick hole 18. Side channels such as 26 (FIG. 4) may or may not be ground in brick 16a depending upon exigencies of usage.

In operation, the abrasion cleaning device is ready for operation by removal of screw cap 46 and deposit of a volume of cleaning compound through fill spout 44 into the interior of handle 12, the supply reservoir. The actuating button 48 is then depressed to compress spring 54 and move valve element 58 downward to expose an annular opening through aperture plate 62. Dry cleaning compound can then fall through the annular opening and onward down through holder panel hole 32 and the brick hole 18 for deposition at the interface between the abrading brick 16a and the surface being cleaned. Periodic depression of knob 48 as required will provide the necessary cleaning compound in accordance with the degree and type of soil being cleaned.

The foregoing discloses a novel abrasion device which finds particular utility in cleaning concrete and the like which has relatively stable and adherent dirt deposits thereon. The cleaning device utilizes a valve control which is easily manipulated to dispense any desired amount of cleaning compound, and this feature, coupled with the practice of dispensing the cleaning compound through the abrading element, makes the device particularly attractive for certain spot cleaning applications such as around the approaches and service areas of a gasoline filling station. The device enables the operator to clean only certain selected spots utilizing a minimum amount of cleaning compound, and the entire cleaning device is relatively light and easily carried and manipulated around an area of use.

It is also contemplated that some applications may benefit from particular contour shaping of the base of the abrading element to enable certain specific cleaning operations. Also, it should be understood that the various specifications as to the manner of connecting, fastening and rigidly affixing are each susceptible of design variations which are well-known in the art.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of elements as'heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings; it being understood that changes may be made in the embodiments disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claim.

What is claimed is:

1. An abrasion cleaning device having integral structure for storage and dispensing of cleaning compound, comprising:

4 an abrading element of gene-rallyblock form having a planar abrading surface, and having one or more generally vertical holes disposed through said abrading element normal to said abrading surface;

holder means including plural fasteners for securing said abrading element beneath said holder means, said holder means having a generally vertical opening which aligns with said plural vertical holes through said abrading element, said holder means being secured to said abrading element upper side in generally sealed relationship;

handle means having upper and lower ends and a hollow interior for containing an appreciable volume of said cleaning compound, said handle means lower end being rigidly attached to said holder means with said hollow interior in communication with said holder means vertical opening, said handle means having a sealable access opening adjacent the upper end thereof to enable filling of said handle means With said cleaning compounds; and

an aperture plate having a central opening, said plate being disposed across said handle means at the lower end thereof in rigid aflixure;

an elongated rod having first and second ends and running throughsaid handle means upper and lower ends with the first end disposed through said aperture plate central opening and the second end through the upper end of said handle means;

a valve element connected to said elongated rod first end below said aperture plate, said element comprising a generally spherical surface which is urged upward within said aperture plate central opening to maintain sealed closure;

end cap means having a central hole and being secured over said handle means upper end with said elongated rod second and extending through said central hole;

compression spring means having first and second ends and being disposed around said elongated rod second end with the spring means first end bearing against said end cap means; and

an actuating cap means rigidly secured on said elongated rod second end in compressing contact with said compression spring means second end.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 438,218 10/1890 Ziv 401279 828,364 8/1906 Anderson 401-279X 1,165,208 12/1915 Ricard 401278 1,170,155 2/1916 Hewitt 51205X 2,314,394 3/1943 Guy 401278X 2,636,203 4/1953 Glantz 401-278 2,779,963 2/1957 Wohl et a1. 401278 FOREIGN PATENTS 633,283 12/1949 Great Britain 51-205 (WG) OTHELL M. SIMPSON, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 401 

